Summer Wars - Recommendations

If you're looking for anime similar to Summer Wars, you might like these titles.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Makoto Konno is a somewhat foolish and tomboyish high school student who spends most of her time hanging out with her two male friends. Things change one day when she suddenly gains the ability to leap through time! At first, she uses her newfound ability to do things such as preventing her sister from stealing her dessert, cheating on a test, and singing Karaoke for 10 hours. However, the small alterations she makes to the timeline turn out to have unforeseen consequences that snowball into dramatic and lethal situations for her and those around her...

13 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time...

Omurqi Omurqi says...

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars have, besides similar animation, quite a bit in common. They both make use of entertaining plot devices with almost limitless possibilities (time traveling and the World of Oz), create an engaging story with said element, and top it off with a hint of romance. Both movies are made to appeal to a large audience, and thus have no crazy or extreme edges to them, and are about equally entertaining. If you liked one of them, give the other a try as well!

yelizaveritas yelizaveritas says...

Slice of Life; Sci Fi; Romance. Three things that common these two movies. More than that, they have very similar animation and the whole style. You really don't know the end of the story until the end. They are unique. Two of a kind. I am completely sure that the fans of one movie would like another.

eaper eaper says...

Beyond the animation styles, each of these movies are centered around a fantastic world (one with an unimaginably huge MMO used for every facet of life, the other with time travel), a bit of budding romance, and using sheer will power to overcome great obstacles. Finally, both of these series will likely appeal to most people, giving few people a reason not to like them.

StardustAngel StardustAngel says...

Both movies are "must watch" masterpieces! Both share similar animation and style, as well as "wide" and entertaining stories full of creativeness! Some other elements like comedy and romance also exist in both movies to add some spice! In general, the 2 movies have a lot in common and deserve such high ratings, so don't miss them!!!

valondar valondar says...

These two anime films by Mamoru Hosoda combine science fiction - time travel or surreal internet realities - with low-key, observational human drama. There's a wry bit of humour and some affecting dramatic moments to be found in either film, and that they'll appeal to largely the same fanbase is to me almost a certainty. I felt, however, that Girl Who Leapt Through Time had the stronger story and characterisation, but a fan of one should definitely consider watching the other.

Sahar Sahar says...

Both from the same director, so art style is similar as are the character designs, comedy etc etc. Though I prefer The girl who leapt through times' plot, the bonds of the characters in Summer wars were more touching.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Beyond the fact that both have amazing animation, feature a rather nice sci-fi element, a teaspoon of romance, an incredible story and some of the best voice acting that I've ever heard.  Both series include enough comedy in either title to make it appealing to a larger audience so it doesn't become boring, but at the sametime sticking to the core plot that it remains engaging and doesn't seem completely pointless.  If you liked one then I can almost say with certainty that you will like the other.

kanamekakashi kanamekakashi says...

The drawing in both movies ares similar. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time concentrate a bit more on the romance and you can tag it a «slice of life». Summer Wars focus on the feeling «save the world». Even if the concept is diffrent it gives the same feeling of adventure.

stinky stinky says...

Both Summer Wars and The Girl Who Lept Through Time have alot of humor and adventure, splashed with a little romance. They both have great female characters!

Lizard Lizard says...

Summer Wars and Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo both focus on the repercussions of depending heavily on technology to majorly affect how we live our lives. In addition, both maintain modern day aesthetics, even with the addition of advanced, even futuristic technology.

Fargo Fargo says...

These movies are lots of fun with endearing casts and engaging plots that greatly upset the status quo, leaving the leads to rectify things. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has a smaller cast and is centered on more of a personal conflict as opposed to the global one present in Summer Wars. Regardless, it is highly likely the audience of one movie would also greatly enjoy the other.

YomiRead YomiRead says...

Both are so worth the watch. I watched each one of them with a smaller sibling.. and even they liked them! Summer wars is a bit of a faster paced movie compared to The Girl who leaped through time, but, both are heart grabbing and manage to hold your breath. 

Angela239 Angela239 says...

Summer Wars and The Girl Who Lept Through Time are both wonderful masterpeices. Both have rather unique adventures and both of them almost seem to be set in a slightly similar world to each other (seems to be set in a world like ours except with a hint of futuristic touch in it.) They both are also highly heart-touching animes you won't regret watching. 

Digimon Adventure Movie 2: Bokura no War Game

Digimon Adventure Movie 2: Bokura no War Game

Just when the Digidestined thought their Digimon troubles were over, a rogue Digimon appears on the Internet, hacking data, and crashing electronic devices across Japan. With the rest of the team tied up in their normal lives, Izumi and Taichi begin to track the mysterious Digimon over the net with the help of Gennai and their old partners. However, other than contacting Takeru and Yamato, they can’t do anything to slow down the ever-growing Digimon. The kids face a race against the clock when Diaboromon hacks into the military’s computer and aim missiles directly at their town. Can they figure out a way to defeat the evil Digimon before it’s too late?

11 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Digimon Adventure Movie 2: Bokura no War Game...

Florin Florin says...

If you like Bokura no War Game or Summer Wars, you'd probably also enjoy the other because they both have a very similar feel to them.  Both movies are about kids fighting some sort of monster online in order to save the real world.  The animation style is similar too. 

kenikki kenikki says...

Most of the events taking place in Oz in Summer Wars are closely copied from the internet events in this Digimon movie. So if you liked these aspects in either movie, try the other.

DeathCrunch DeathCrunch says...

Malicious virus type monsters cause chaos in the digital world. Resulting in a knock on threat to the real world.

The threats to our world happen to be the same in both movies, as well as lots of other things.

The heroes of both stories are teams of young people and their digital partners, fighting to save the world.

Just how similar these films are is frightening.

TothAnime TothAnime says...

Using the internet to fight monsters that threaten the lives and well being of millions of people.

A person who has watched lots of anime may tell you that the movie your describing is either the second digimon movie or Summer Wars the plot lines are very similar but have different aspects that make the movies unique and enjoyable to both different and alike watchers, overall recommend both movies and enjoyed them immensely recommend to anyone.

bakaneko1990 bakaneko1990 says...

In both movies some kind of virus takes over the internet and manages to manipulate departures of the governments etc. in order to destroy the planet earth. To prevent this, a group of teenagers (and their helpers) take action and fight against the virus. It’s not just the story that sounds familiar if you’ve watched one of them. Also the animation of both is exactly the same kind.

jelephant jelephant says...

Mamoru Hosoda directed both Summer Wars and Digimon Movie 2: Bokura no War Game, so it's not so suprising that both movies are incredibly similar in terms of plot and animation- in fact while watching Summer Wars I kind of got the feeling that Digimon was something of a "first draft". Even though it's been a while since I've seen Digimon, I enjoyed both and I'm sure that others who liked one will also like the other.

TheMajor5 TheMajor5 says...

These 2 movies have an interesting premise, the world is run by the internet.  Everything that is in the world is somehow connected through the net.  In Digimon and Summer Wars, a deadly hacker, in the form of an awesome all powerful monster, is hell bent on destroying the net and causing harm. The art is very well done and the stories have everything one could want in a futuristic story.  Summer Wars wraps up very nicely as well.

BlackEsper BlackEsper says...

Summer Wars is effectively a feature-length, stand-alone version of Bokura no War Game - same director, same animation style, hell, basically even the same story!

mmag13 mmag13 says...

Both Summer Wars and Bokura no War Game have an almost exact same feel to them.  They both center around kids/teens trying to fight an enemy in a digital world.  This enemy, if left unchecked can also do major damage to the real world.  If you liked one, be sure to give the other a shot.

KoolKool KoolKool says...

These movies are incredibly similar in many ways. The plot, the villain and even some of the action in Summer Wars is pretty much lifted from Bokura no War Game. Both were directed by the same man, Mamoru Hosoda and it seems to me that Summer Wars is the movie he would have made if he had more input and a bigger budget. Many people have commented on their similarities in the past, even calling Bokura no War Game a "prototype" or a "first draft".

I would recommend that anyone who liked this Digimon movie should watch Summer Wars. You will not be disappointed.

For Summer Wars fans, I would also recommend Bokura no War Game, especially if you have ever liked Digimon. And even if you haven't, it's still worth seeing where the ideas for Summer Wars originated and how they were executed almost a decade earlier.

MwrulesC MwrulesC says...

Both of these movies share a similar premise. The world is dependent on the internet (or some similar digital-verse) that ends up coming under attack, and it's up to a group of children to fight to protect it.

I found Summer Wars to be the better of the two, but think those who enjoyed the digital battle in one movie should try the other.

.hack//SIGN

.hack//SIGN

In a massive online world, people act only as well as their conscience demands. When one player's punishment is to be trapped in this world, a disparate group of people seek the answers why. Their motives are varied; their methods even more so. What stands between when we tear down the walls of reality? Where does our soul end and we begin?

4 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like .hack//SIGN...

HoshikoYoukai HoshikoYoukai says...

both the movie Summer Wars and the .Hack//SIGN series have simmilar plots surrounding a virual world and how some mystrious problem comes and throws it out of wack. both are worth watching.

Htieks Htieks says...

Seriously, was I the only one who thought these two anime are surprisingly similar?

Internet, and special network/game in particular, are something extremely important for the worlds of these series. The main "villains" are basically the same thing, and when they start damaging the real world a group of "normal" people try to stop them online. Even the plans used to fight these enemies are almost the same. And both deal with really similar themes...

.hack//SIGN takes a more fantasy approach to the themes (and seems incomplete because it continues in a videogame series), but I think Summer Wars is much more lighthearted than the latter. Anyway, I'm sure if you liked one, you'll like the other as well.

ProjectBlackRai ProjectBlackRai says...

The key to both of these animes is the content. The animation styles are vastly different, however, both pertain to a digital world that was supposed to be revolutionary and both came under attack by some unknown entity, causing far-reaching consequences. Both are worth watching. If you've already seen one, see the other.

oddlyk1 oddlyk1 says...

Both .hack//SIGN (and other .hack) and Summer Wars deal with a virtual world, an AI, and some MAJOR problems that not only effect virtual reality, but our wolrd aswell.

Digimon Adventure Movie 1

Digimon Adventure Movie 1

Four years before the Digidestined were transported to the Digital World, and before they met their Digimon partners, they had no idea what Digimon were. That changed late one night when Taichi and Hikari Yamagi watched a Digi-Egg appear out of their computer screen. When it hatched, it changed the fate of the eight kids who were chosen to save the Digital World. However, Taichi and Hikari were more concerned with how to hide the growing Digimon in their apartment. Little did they know they’d soon see their second, and much less friendly, Digimon...

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Digimon Adventure Movie 1...

Sahar Sahar says...

Plots are very similar. Wars in the digital world. Both are funny and have a great art style to them as well.

Naga Naga says...

(Have in mind that Digimon movie one is combination of movies 1 and 2, or at least it was back then when I watched it) First of all I think that Summer Wars is massively influenced if not copied Digimon on a whole new level. If you watch both movies in a row you will notice that SW copied a lot of scenes and even dialogue. I don´t think that its dry copy but its really hard to ignore that much similarities. In both cases plot is practicly the same... shocking? Difference is in charachters and world but everything else from plot development to major twists is too damn similar (if not same). I hate to be the one impying that one thing is copy of other, but in this case it is hardy ignorable. Both are marvelous anime, however SW is newer and more appealing to watch for a new generations (mostly beause of animations and possibly better action, which I doubt). But to me Digimon the move (Movies 1 and 2) is far more superior anime. If you enjoyed one of these you should definately grab the other one.

XxDigitalSoulxX XxDigitalSoulxX says...

Both of these series are very similar in a variety of ways. While the Digimon movie does come first, and Summer Wars is almost plagarising Digimon's plot, both movies are equally amazingly well written and animated. 

recumbent recumbent says...

digimon: the movie (as it used to be called) and summer wars share A LOT of common themes... children who wield avatars that battle in cyberspace, AI villains that rapidly evolve, countdown clocks with deadly missles re-programmed by the AIs targeting earth, pairs of boy hackers, visits to granmas in the country, baseball games on TV interrupted, cyberworlds that are white voids filled with objects that are bright pastel colored, and even the entire world rooting for the good guys to defeat the bad AIs as they watch in cyberspace.

it's almost like whatever came second was a reboot of the other. the only really big differences between the two are that AIs can exist in the real world in digimon and that a love story is central to summer wars. otherwise, the two movies are more alike than different.

Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW

Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW

When Noriko, Amane and their friends left for a week-long summer camp experience in the countryside, they had no idea that they were about to embark on a galactic adventure! After helping a wounded, dog-like alien, the creature offers to take them to a spaceport on the moon where fantastical beings, flashy sights and new friends await them. Together, the gang will travel between worlds, dodge nefarious poachers and even encounter the most famous television show in the galaxy, as they embark on the best summer vacation of their lives!

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW...

sothis sothis says...

Finally, a good recommendation for Summer Wars! Both titles are INCREDIBLY gorgeous and detailed with immersive fantasy worlds that will take your breath away. A perfect blend of awesome characters, humor and overall fun that will appeal to fans of all ages.

Pippin4242 Pippin4242 says...

These two family-friendly films utilise sharp, flat character designs and lucious photo-realistic backgrounds to create a sense of wonder at the future, be it the depths of space or the expansive realms of the internet. Yet both ground their hearts in traditional Japanese ideals and imagery, and both are distinctly moral tales; traditional stories wearing a gaudy cloak of modernity.

mentalstatic mentalstatic says...

both have those otherworldly feels right on the money. Its a big welcome to our magical world showing off, and both are great. If you love the big family friendly we can do it together type of anime with these you can't go wrong

Synthwaver Synthwaver says...

One is about a wonderful virtual world, the other about a wonderful trip to the moon (and beyond), and they're equally fascinating to watch. If you're a fan of quality animation and freaky designs (the visuals here are quite psychedelic), don't miss these two. Plot-wise, these are the typical family friendly flick with lot of good vibes, good fun for all ages.

Den-noh Coil

Den-noh Coil

In a futuristic world, the virtual world is merely a layer on top of reality; within it, cyberpets are abundant and information is plentiful, and it is only visible by wearing special cyberglasses. In Daikoku City, this cyberspace is behaving strangely: cyberpets are going missing, dark entities known as "the Illegal" roam obsolete space that shouldn’t exist, and a large pink antivirus program known as Satchii wanders the streets, attacking both virus and pets alike. Sixth grader Yuko Okonogi has just moved to Daikoku City, and after cyberdetective children help her rescue her lost dog, she soon joins the others in a search for the truth behind these strange occurances.

3 votes

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Reasons you might like Den-noh Coil...

valondar valondar says...

It's the near future and internet technology has progressed to a level where it can be depicted as really artistic surreality - and mastery of the internet belongs to the young. Some of them have older relatives - though still young, on the cusp of adulthood - who have an even deeper connection with the emerging cyber-realities.

Even so, don't underestimate the grandmothers in either title! These anime are as much about the lulls and naturalistic depictions of family life as they are about cyberspace, with a mixture of excellent animation, wry humour and - in Denno Coil's case particularly - some great drama.

shinigamidono shinigamidono says...

Both series involve cyber warfare and in both series the outcome of the cyber warfare has a profound effect on the real world.

twds twds says...

Both

  • the near future 
  • drawing have refreshing simplicity
  • juvenile

Superflat First Love

Superflat First Love

Aya once again stands outside the Louis Vuitton store, but this time, Panda Geant doesn't appear before her. Instead, the smaller, multicolored Petit Panda suddenly appears, swallowing the girl and bringing her back into to the abstract, colorful world! Aya even finds herself back in the late 1800s and meets a teenaged Gaston-Louis Vuitton, before she must return to her own time...

3 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like Superflat First Love...

sothis sothis says...

As Superflat First Love is a Louis Vuitton commercial and Summer Wars is an epic movie, I can see why this might look like a strange recommendation. Both both have INCREDIBLY similar animation that will fill you with wonder and delight, and similar quirky, bizarre music. If you liked one, do try out the other.

Kari5 Kari5 says...

First Love reminds me of Summer Wars mostly because of the animation, but they have a similar feel as well. If you're a fan of Summer Wars and have a few minutes to spare, I recommend giving Superflat First Love a shot! And if you're a fan of the animation from First Love, then definatly check out Summer Wars, it's a great movie with sweet art.

 

Archaeon Archaeon says...

Creative visuals are the order of the day, with both Hosoda and Madhouse taking their ideas for Summer Wars' virtual world directly from here.

C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control

C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control

Kimimaro Yoga could use a break. At nineteen years old, he's not only a student at Heisei College of Economics, he's also a part time employee and flat out broke. So when an eerie man offers the boy a special ATM card and an exorbitant amount of cash, Kimimaro gives in to temptation – but there's a catch. In exchange for his good fortune, Kimimaro's very future is put at stake, held as collateral by the Bank of Midas and tied to the amount of yen in his bank account. In addition, he must participate in a special battle every week in the mysterious 'Financial District' – a battle where losing against one's opponent can mean bankruptcy, a fate that carries an unthinkable cost in the normal world...

3 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control...

MADwonderholic MADwonderholic says...

They both center around a boy that gets involved in a virtual world. The battles both have a similar bizzare feel to them, and similar aesthetics. If you like one, you'd probably like the other.

eaper eaper says...

These series each focus on two seperate world- one being the real world while the other is a world with the power to control the real world. Each series also has interesting visuals throughout.

animeandwwefanDXXD animeandwwefanDXXD says...

similar themes of real life contrasted with a huge virtual world/virtual reality that still effects the real world ;) similar avatar and human charachters as well...animation kind of.....similar...(kind of!) ;) summer wars probs the better of the 2 from memory...

Superflat Monogram

Superflat Monogram

A young girl is standing outside a store, using her mobile phone, when a strange force wrenches that phone from her hands and drops it onto the ground. When she goes to pick up her phone she finds that a fantastically strange creature has picked it up first - and eats it. She's furious - until it eats her too! Apparently, being eaten throws her into a bizarre and disorienting reality full of shifting shapes and colors... and all she wants is her phone back!

2 votes

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Reasons you might like Superflat Monogram...

valondar valondar says...

In both the anime short Superflat Monogram and the film Summer Wars, a girl finds herself slipping into a brightly coloured fantasy world which is explicitly 'Superflat' in design. Both animes are by Mamoru Hosoda and one can see a clear visual connection between either title - if you liked the spectacle of one, check the other out.

Archaeon Archaeon says...

Creative visuals are the order of the day, with both Hosoda and Madhouse taking their ideas for Summer Wars' virtual world directly from here.

My Neighbors The Yamadas

My Neighbors The Yamadas

The Yamadas are an ordinary suburban family that enjoy shopping together, watching TV together, and sharing meals just like anyone else. Or so we think! With grumpy grandma Shige wisecracking at the worst times, and Mummy and Daddy Yamada testing each other’s patience at every turn, no family moment ends without a fascinating mishap. But nobody chooses their family, so the Yamadas must learn to savor the joys, forgive each other’s mistakes and, above all, learn lessons that only make them stronger.

2 votes

I agree

Reasons you might like My Neighbors The Yamadas...

Hesse Hesse says...

My Neighbors the Yamadas and Summer Wars are both family friendly films, showcasing the humorous oddities of modern-day Japanese kin. While Summer Wars, an epic sci-fi adventure, gained much commercial success, My Neighbors the Yamadas was a box office flop that took a much quieter pace on family themes. Both shows focus on the complex relationships of a traditional Japanese clan/family, and the often dysfunctional, chaotic lives they lead. There are subtle, entertaining interactions between these shows’ down-to-earth characters (each with their own quirks and personalities). If you liked the heartwarming, charming appeal of either film, check out the other.

Archaeon Archaeon says...

The family dynamic viewed in a humourous and quirky manner. If you like Summer Wars for its characters and the interplay between them, then you'll like Tonari no Yamada-kun.